SD strategies and governance in Europe after Rio+20

Transcription

1 SD strategies and governance in Europe after Rio+20 Reflections from the ESDN Conference 2012 Gerald Berger ESDN Office Team EESC Rio+20 Debriefing Session, Bringing Rio home Brussels, 5 July 2012

2 Overview on content 1) Background on the ESDN 2) ESDN Conference ) Key observations of Rio+20 (from ESDN) 4) ESDN Communique 5) What the ESDN will work on in the near future

3 European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN) What is the ESDN and what are its targets? The European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN)is an informal network of public administrators and other experts dealing with sustainable development (SD) strategies in Europe. 280 members and associated partners from 36 countries (incl. EU-27) Strategic targets 1.Promoting and advancing sustainable development at the EU and Member States level; 2.Facilitating the exchange of good practices and experiences on SD and national SD strategies; 3.Providing added-value for policy-makers on advancing SD in Europe (Policy Briefs); 4.Mainstreaming SD issuesinto vertical and horizontal integration, especially integration of SD in the executive and steering-cycle of the EU

4 European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN) How do we try to achieve the targets? ESDN Website ( is one-stop-shop for SD strategies and governance Country profiles providing background info about SD policy of individual countries. Quarterly reports & case studies on topical SD issues. Policy briefs recommendations for policy-makers. Annual conference exchange and recommendations platform. Workshops 1-2 per year, in-depth discussion about one specific topic Rio+20 side-event NSDS and its relation to Green Economy

5 European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN)

6 ESDN Conference 2012 ESDN in cooperation with the Danish EU Presidency Rio+20 and its implications for SD Policy at the EU and national level Copenhagen, June participants from 21 countries Keynoters: Danish MoE (Ida Auken), UNEP, EESC, German Advisory Council on Global Change, researchers (political scientist, economist), int. policy advisor Interactive sessions observations, recommendations, proposals for ESDN topics for the future

7 Key observations of Rio+20 from ESDN 2012 Full reaffirmation of sustainable development, and of the broad array of relevant international commitments Various processes (e.g. SDGs) have been initiated New approach towards international SD governance less influence of EU Decreasing political commitment for SD of heads-of-state (Obama, Merkel) Outside of main negotiation halls many side agreements (e.g. businesses): How to capture and make use of what happened outside negotiations? The wrong machine? Financial/debt crises but questioning traditional economic growth model cannot be voiced in mainstream politics

8 Key observations of Rio+20 from ESDN 2012 World s most inventive minds they are deployed in financial markets, ICT, foster consumption, etc. but where are the most inventive SD minds / positive role models? Perception game: negative perception vs. positive aspects? Club of front-runners? governments that retain interest in SD should cooperate with like-minded nations What is the future role of national governments? Do citizens trust their capacity to act? Importance of other actors will increase (e.g. businesses, CSOs, NGOs, etc)

9 Performance of stakeholders in SD Down to Business: Leading at Rio+20 and Beyond, The Regeneration Project, 2012

10 Key observations of Rio+20 from ESDN 2012 Important paras in Rio+20 Outcome Document for SD governance: Para 98: We encourage regional, national, sub-national and local authorities as appropriate to develop and utilize SD strategies as key instruments for guiding decision-making and implementation of SD at all levels (...) Para 75: integrate the three dimensions of SD in a balanced manner ; enhance implementation by (...) strengthening coherence, coordination (...) and reviewing progress in implementing SD ; Para 76: effective governance ( ) is crucial for advancing SD 9 specifications Para 101: strengthen national, sub-national and/or local institutions or relevant multistakeholder bodies and processes( )

11 ESDN Conference 2012 Communique SD is happening right now, and it is vital and crucial for the future There is no crisis of SD instead, SD is the best answer to the current crises It is important to develop mechanisms / frameworks for bringing home the outcomes of Rio+20 efficient implementation is key (revisit/revive EU and national SD strategies and other policy strategies, e.g. Europe 2020)

12 ESDN Conference 2012 Communique Rio+20 is the start of a process: UN level:follow up on Rio+20 outcomes (SDG s, 10 YFP, ) EU level: Walk the (SD/Rio+20) talk review / renew all policy strategies with SD perspective National level:new alliances for concrete actions involving the national, sub-national level and other stakeholders in a multi-actor approach

13 What the ESDN will work on / 1 Review/renew the EU SDS and/or Europe 2020 Strategy Discussion & clarification of added-value of EU SDS in relation to Europe 2020 [many national governments have unclear position towards EU SDS] Cooperation with EP (MEPs) work on options for renewing EU SDS and Europe 2020 as follow up to Rio+20 Request to Cyprus EU Presidency to open debate on mainstreaming SD in Europe 2020 or renewal of separate EU SDS Foster the work on more ambitious SD goals in the EU for 2050 and lobby for implementation of SD goals

14 What the ESDN will work on / 2 Definition/montoring of SDGs Contribute to the upcoming SDG process as an SD expertise platform ESDN Quarterly Report on SD goals and objectives (March 2012) Reflect on themes and goals that need to be tackled in an integrative and comprehensive way Organise a workshop on SDGs: Stock-taking of international and European SD objectives & monitoring work

15 What the ESDN will work on / 3 Would like to see Greening the European Semester FoP / ECOFIN / European Council prepare for Greening European Semester Support for inclusive green economy as a means to overcome the financial crisis in Europe Green Economy is considered important for implementing Europe 2020 and the new 7 th EAP Efforts to clarify link between NRPs and NSDSs

16 What the ESDN will work on / 4 Input to the Beyond GDP work ESDN is seeking partnerships with actors dealing with Beyond GDP to exchange know-how and to use momentum ESDN will suggest to Commission to update/renew communication on Beyond GDP of 2009 ESDN actively seeks to include social aspects & quality-of-life issuesin measuring societal progress/well-being/wealth of democracies

17 SD future? Is the glass half full or half empty? New role of national level SD facilitators [SD] can only be achieved with a broad alliance of people, governments, civil society and private sector, all working together to secure the future we want for present and future generations. (para 13, The Future We Want).

18 Look up / down/ around Three actions (by Alan AtKisson) Look up: Keep the SD vision alive, use the positives from Rio+20, draw on stories of progress in all sectors Look down: Increase efforts to create enabling environments for subnational action Look around: Strengthen and broaden networks of sustainable development champions and support each other

19 The End Credits... Thanks for your attention! Please get in touch: Gerald Berger, ESDN Office Web: